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Microsoft just unveiled a plethora of products and updates to their hardware and software coming in 2017. One of the most interesting announcements was the Creator’s Update coming to Windows 10 Spring of 2017. The Creator’s Update features it’s first integration of 3D technology. Starting with one of those oldest pieces of software from Windows, Paint 3D aims to scan objects from the real world and bring them to life in an all new 3D environment. The update is largely meant for the new Surface Studio desktop that aims to ease professional artists into these realms. Look to see the Windows 10 Creator’s Update coming to all Windows 10 supported devices for free this Spring.

It has been four years since Apple has overhauled the design of the MacBook Pro and today Apple aims to breathe new life into the series. Designed for developers, the MacBook Pro has always featured top of the line specifications to push the limits of computing of its time. Now thinner, more powerful, and seemingly more innovative than ever before. Apple aims to bring simplistic, easy to use controls at your finger tips. The new OLED display between the keyboard and screen (which used to be function keys) dubbed the Touch Bar utilizes taps and gestures to perform a wide array of tasks. The bar includes Touch ID powered by the company’s very own T1 chip for security. Touch ID can be used to make purchases as easy as a finger press with Apple Pay.

One of the biggest changes of the device is it’s inclusion of all new USB C ports. Any slot doubles as a charging port for the device. Long gone is the need to worry about where you are to get a comfortable charging area. These ports can be used for anything. Thunderbolt, USB, HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, you name it. The downside? No more specific ports. You will need an adapter to get the compatibility with your older devices.

The device launches in many types of configurations and and claims no matter which model you get, it will be twice as fast as it’s previous generation. Learn more about the different specifications and configurations at Apple’s website here. Pre-orders expected to ship in 2-3 weeks.

According to a recently filed lawsuit by Apple, about 90% of the chargers sold on Amazon are fakes. Company Mobile Star LLC is being suited for trademark infringement, on allegations that the company has been selling fake Apple chargers as Genuine. In light of recent news, of some Apple devices catching fire, it is strongly advised that you use a Genuine Apple Certified cable to ensure not only your device safety, but yours as well.

Apple wrote the following:

“Consumers, relying on Amazon.com’s reputation, have no reason to suspect the power products they purchased from Amazon.com are anything but genuine. This is particularly true where, as here, the products are sold directly “by Amazon.com” as genuine Apple products using Apple’s own product marketing images. Consumers are likewise unaware that the counterfeit Apple products that Amazon.com sourced from Mobile Star have not been safety certified or properly constructed, lack adequate insulation and/or have inadequate spacing between low voltage and high voltage circuits, and pose a significant risk of overheating, fire, and electrical shock. Indeed, consumer reviews of counterfeit Apple power adapters purchased from Amazon.com and from the above ASIN report that the counterfeit products overheat, smolder, and in some cases catch fire:”

Apple goes further on to say that they purchased around 100 of these chargers and personally tested them in their labs to find that they were “poorly constructed, with inferior or missing components, flawed design, and inadequate electrical insulation.” Amazon has since then turned over their entire inventory back to Mobile Star LLC for further investigation and has pulled the chargers off the website.

SanDisk just announced a new 1TB SD card (specifically a SDXC card) that is currently in prototype phase. The new card is aimed at the storage market for 4K and 8K video recorders or any other device that needs ultra high resolution video files (i.e. tons of storage space, like Virtual Reality VR playback devices).

SanDisk is one of the best flash and SD card manufacturers on the market. It is one of the top brands we at Karls Technology recommend to our clients. You can read more about the new cards in this article.

We started noticing last week that most of the websites we do SEO services for started changing in position in google search. Google has finally made a statement that the massive fluctuations in page values is not a major algorithm change but is part of “normal fluctuations.”

There seems to be a consensus forming in the SEO community that despite what Google is saying they made a major algorithm update this last week. We are seeing a lot of movement in positions especially for our clients that were effected by the last Google Penguin update. I think this shows that content is king as our higher quality content sites see to be less impacted and possibly even boosted. Time will tell if this event is considered Penguin update 5.0 (or maybe what Google is saying is this isn’t a major algorithm change but it is Penguin update 4.5) or not.

Microsoft announced, last week, that they will end the normal Windows update patches for Windows 7 and Windows 8 in October 2016. The normal Windows Update process will be replaced with a single monthly rollup that patches both security and reliability issues in a single package. Each month’s rollup package will contain previous months rollups so only one package will need to be installed to bring your Windows operating system up to date.

There are some clear cut advantages and disadvantages to this new updating patching system. You will now only need to install one update if you ever need to reinstall your operating system. Windows 7 updates go back years and can take hours of rebooting, downloading and installing to bring a new computer up to date. One big disadvantage is if you currently skip any updates (for instance the much disliked auto update to Windows 10 update) they will be installed with the first month’s rollup package. There will also be no method to test or remove individual updates and patches that cause issue with older software or hardware. This Windows 10 like all or nothing update method can cause a issues after each monthly rollup is released.

If you have any questions post a comment or contact the office at 480-240-2950 and If you have any issues with your computer after an update give us a call and we can fix your system for you.